After I shared my daily photo project #lifeat214, I had several folks express their desire to start their own project but were a little skeptical about their images being creative or interesting -- nonsense! And how exciting! Thanks to technology many of us have exceptional cameras with us at all times and taking pictures or committing to a daily photo project is less intimidating. Here are few thoughts on how to get the best images with that tiny device :
1 | Tap It
Don't laugh, this isn't obvious to everyone. But if you simply tap the subject on your screen, your phone's camera will focus on and expose for that subject. (My favorite camera app, VSCOcam offers one tap-circle for exposure and a second for focus.) In the image below, the camera is reading and exposing for the window, making everything else a silhouette. Once I moved the focus to Ruthie-girl, it reconsiders the light and exposes for her face.
Tap the subject on your screen for proper focus and exposure. | 5 Tips for Better Phone Images
Tap the subject on your screen for proper focus and exposure. | 5 Tips for Better Phone Images
2 | Rule of Thirds
Some camera apps include an option to overlay a grid on your composition. This is a helpful guideline to utilize the Rule of Thirds which suggests that the most pleasing compositions place the subject at an intersection of two lines or equally among each third segment.
Subject lies at an intersection of two segments | Rule of Thirds | 5 Tips for Better Phone Images
Composition is divided evenly among three segments | Rule of Thirds | 5 Tips for Better Phone Images
3 | Control Your Environment
Clean up your image by only including things that contribute to your visual story. Want to share a snapshot of the delicious dish you just whipped up for your honey? Unless you're sending a very round-about-message that you cooked and so he should do the dishes, maybe omit the overflowing kitchen sink from your image.
I assure you the counter just to the right of those adorable toes was a mess. | Clean up the Environment | 5 Tips for Better Phone Images
4 | Consider the Process
Oftentimes the process is more visually interesting than the final result. Challenge yourself to take an interesting image while running rather than a sweaty-bathroom-mirror-selfie.
The process can be lovely, too. | 5 Tips for Better Phone Images
5 | Change Perspecitve
A good portion of the population sees the world at a height of 5'3". Changing your angle and moving your feet provides the viewer with a fresh perspective.
Change Perspective | 5 Tips for Better Phone Images
BONUS | Put your camera down
Believe me, I know firsthand the desire to share share share all the marvelous things you're doing/seeing/eating but remember to put the camera down and actually experience/observe/taste them.
**** Additional Tips (2/7) : To turn on your iPhone Camera Grid, go to settings>camera>grid
To take a picture quickly, use the VOLUME button on the side of your camera -- this can oftentimes eliminate camera shake well!
FAVORITE APPS :
VSCOcam | Camera + editing app
Whitagram | adds a white boarder to your 4:6 ratio image making it a 4:4 (square).
PostalPix | Order high quality prints of your images directly from your phone
Artifact Uprising | order beautiful softcover "instagram books" directly from your phone
OKDOTHIS | interactive photo-taking-photo-assignment application. Receive creative and challenging prompts as you're on the go snapping images.